Search Results: Authors starting with O from Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc.

BRONXVILLE, LAWRENCE PARK NEW YORK. Good+. 1916. On offer is a delightful travel journey of a 12 year old girl crossing the North American continent in the early 20th Century. Hester Oakley Meigs was the grand-daughter of William Van Duzer Lawrence. Lawrence was a wealthy businessman who envisaged and then created the planned artist community of Bronxville, NY, about 15 miles north of Manhattan. He also established the liberal arts college Sarah Lawrence College and named it after his wife and Meigs' grand-mother, Sarah Lawrence. The journal is a small 6 inch by 3 1/2 inch notebook of 90 pages. It is about 50% complete, covering the time period July 27 to Sept 2nd, 1916. The journal is in good condition and the handwriting is quite legible. The journey was made by train with her parents when Meigs was 12 years old. Her excitement and joy shine through on each page. ... I am thrilled to tears! [July 27] - her first entry about upcoming trip. In Chicago, she notes ... went on an… Read More

Europe. Very Good. 1888. Full-Leather. Beginning May 13th, 1888 with the detailing of their arrival in Antwerp, Belgium, Beatrice Oberly, a 12 year old girl [as noted on the fep], fills this charming leather diary from front to back with the travels of her family, [Mamma, Papa and Flossie] in late 19th century Europe until the diary's end August 22nd. Beatrice writes with a very clear almost adult handwriting and she also communicates in a very mature manner. She is a keen observer and dedicated to her diary noting arrivals, departures, accomodations and historical notes. Great look at Europe over 120 years ago. In very nice shape save for some trauma to the tail of the spine.; Manuscript; 24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall; HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, DIARY, JOURNAL, LOG, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, DIARIES, JOURNALS, LOGS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL… Read More

MONTREAL, QUEBEC CANADA. Good. 1888. On offer is a fascinating collection of prose and poetry written in the late 19th century, by a French Canadian writer from Montreal. Measuring 5 inches by 3.25 inches, this flip-style note book contains 88 pages and is approximately 60% complete. The cover and pages and in good condition. The binding has loosened and several pages are loose but all are accounted for. The handwriting is neat and legible. It is written in French. The author is Joseph L. Octave LeBrun. The collection was written in 1888. He notes in the journal that he lives in Longue Pointe, Montreal. Casual research has not found additional biographical information on LeBrun. However, it is clear from his writing that he is a well-educated man. The collection consists of essays on various topics, poems and some personal writings. Much of it is in the romantic style popular in late 19th century literature. He begins with the following essay on the advantages of Marriage - Avantages du… Read More

London England Britain UK. Good. 1750. Vellum. On offer is an exemplary and rare Latin copy of the “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion,” the defining statements of doctrines and practices of the Church of England and one of the most important religious documents of history. While the Articles themselves were formulated in the mid-1500s, this particular book dates back to c.1700. The Articles were issued in both Latin and English. The entirety of this book is written in Latin. There is a vellum cover still fully intact though there are small tears at the ends and discoloration due to age. Written on the front cover, and continued on the back, are a table of contents for all 39 articles. They begin with “I. De Fide in sacrosanctam Trinitatem.” and ending with “XXIX. De Christiani Juramento.” The writing is still extremely clear. Smudging or discoloration of the text throughout the entire book is non-existent. The book is roughly 160 pages long. It has been sewed… Read More

Havana, Cuba: Chinese Coolie Trade Contract. Fair with no dust jacket. 1861. Non-Book. On offer is an absolutely remarkable, completely handwritten Contrata, being the second contract offered to Chinese coolie labourers after completing their first “primitive” contract. This contrata is written for Juan, age 37 [Note: A Christian name assigned to Chinese coolies when they boarded the ship in Macau. For examples of this, see our collection of coolie ship manifests within the Chinese-Cuban collection]. In this contrata, Juan agrees to work for another two years and will work for Mr. Mariono Penichet, beginning in May of 1861. The contract lays out the obligations of the worker to the boss and of the boss to the worker. For example, he will be fed and clothed, allowed to rest if sick, but not paid if he cannot work. The contract is signed on May 23, 1861 by multiple witnesses and in Chinese by Juan. The Chinese coolie trade, a system of indentured labor that targeted young, poor… Read More

Havana, Matanzas, Cuba: Emancipated Chinese Coolie Trade Contract. Good+ with no dust jacket. 1865. Non-Book. On offer is a fascinating Contrata, being the second contract offered to Chinese coolie labourers after completing their first “primitive” contract. This contrata is written for Fecony, age 21 [Note: A Christian name assigned to Chinese coolies when they boarded the ship in Macau. For examples of this, see our collection of coolie ship manifests within the Chinese-Cuban collection]. This is a very interesting contract since it would have been presented after the completion of the primitive contract which was generally eight years long. This would mean that Fecony was still a child of only 13 when he came over from Macau to work in Cuba. This contrata lays out the work term, the expectations, and the salary (4 pesos) per month. It indicates that he will be working for Mr. Fulgucio Garcia. The remainder of the contract discusses Rugelio’s obligations to his boss, and… Read More

Havana, Matanzas, Cuba. Good+ with no dust jacket. 1868. Non-Book. On offer is a fascinating Contrata, being the second contract offered to Chinese coolie labourers after completing their first “primitive” contract. This contrata is written for Chan oky Rufino [Note: A Christian name assigned to Chinese coolies when they boarded the ship in Macau. For examples of this, see our collection of coolie ship manifests within the Chinese-Cuban collection]. The contrata indicates that he will be working for Mr. Juan Bautista Beuite. The remainder of the contract discusses Rufino’s obligations to his boss, and his boss’ obligation to him. For example, he will be fed and clothed, allowed to rest if sick, but not paid if he cannot work. The contract is signed by Juan Bautista Beuite plus witnesses on June 15, 1866. The Chinese coolie trade, a system of indentured labor that targeted young, poor Chinese men, operated from 1847-1874. Throughout this period, African slavery was… Read More

Havana, Cuba: Chinese Coolie Trade Emancipation Havana. Good with no dust jacket. 1860. Non-Book. On offer is a fascinating Contrata, being the second contract offered to Chinese coolie labourers after completing their first “primitive” contract. This contrata was given to a coolie who had been working in Havana when his initial contract ended in 1860. This contrata is written for Eduardo Echon, age 32 [Note: A Christian name assigned to Chinese coolies when they boarded the ship in Macau. For examples of this, see our collection of coolie ship manifests within the Chinese-Cuban collection]. In this contrata, Eduardo agrees to work for another four years and will work for Mr. Antonio Cabargo beginning December 1, 1860. The contract states very clearly that Eduardo may not stay in Cuba if he does not renew this contract or begin a new contract when this one expires (how will Eduardo get back to China? It would likely be impossible given the immense cost). The remainder of the… Read More

Havana, Cuba: Chinese Coolie Trade Contracts. Good+ with no dust jacket. 1861. Non-Book. On offer is an absolutely remarkable, completely handwritten Contrata, being the second contract offered to Chinese coolie labourers after completing their first “primitive” contract. This contrata is written for Leba, age 47 [Note: A Christian name assigned to Chinese coolies when they boarded the ship in Macau. For examples of this, see our collection of coolie ship manifests within the Chinese-Cuban collection]. In this contrata, Leba agrees to work for another two years and will work for Mr. Francisco Terrano, beginning in June of 1861. The contract lays out the obligations of the worker to the boss and of the boss to the worker. For example, he will be fed and clothed, allowed to rest if sick, but not paid if he cannot work. The contract is signed on June 2, 1861 by Terrano, multiple witnesses, and in Chinese by Leba. The Chinese coolie trade, a system of indentured labor that targeted… Read More

Havana, Cuba: Chinese Coolie Trade Contract. Poor with no dust jacket. 1861. Non-Book. On offer is an absolutely remarkable, completely handwritten Contrata, being the second contract offered to Chinese coolie labourers after completing their first “primitive” contract. This contrata is written for Celestino, age 45 [Note: A Christian name assigned to Chinese coolies when they boarded the ship in Macau. For examples of this, see our collection of coolie ship manifests within the Chinese-Cuban collection]. In this contrata, Celestino agrees to work for another two years and will work for Mr. Mariono Penichet, beginning in May of 1861. The contract lays out the obligations of the worker to the boss and of the boss to the worker. For example, he will be fed and clothed, allowed to rest if sick, but not paid if he cannot work. The contract is signed on May 23, 1861 by multiple witnesses, but there is no Chinese signature by Celestino. In some cases, illiterate Chinese men had… Read More

Havana, Cuba: Chinese Coolie Trade Contract. Fair with no dust jacket. 1861. Non-Book. On offer is an absolutely remarkable, completely handwritten Contrata, being the second contract offered to Chinese coolie labourers after completing their first “primitive” contract. This contrata is written for Tomas, age 31 [Note: A Christian name assigned to Chinese coolies when they boarded the ship in Macau. For examples of this, see our collection of coolie ship manifests within the Chinese-Cuban collection]. In this contrata, Tomas agrees to work for another two years and will work for Mr. Jose Julian de Isla, beginning in May of 1861. The contract lays out the obligations of the worker to the boss and of the boss to the worker. For example, he will be fed and clothed, allowed to rest if sick, but not paid if he cannot work. The contract is signed on May 23, 1861 by Jose Julian de Isla and multiple witnesses. It is not signed in Chinese by Tomas. In cases where a Chinese coolie was… Read More

SEGOVIA SALAMANCA SPAIN ESPANA. Very Good. 1599. On offer is a superb late 16th early 17th Century manuscript book in two volumes being the transcribed works of John of Segovia the influential Catholic Theologian who was a professor at the Spanish University of Salamanca, represented Castille at the Council of Basel, and represented the council in the 1439 Diet of Mainz. He played a large role in the removal of Pope Eugene IV and the placement of Antipope Felix V. Volume One: "Tractatus de Deo" a 333 page work in a fine hand though not necessarily the work of a scrivener, the endpapers featuring heraldic and maybe royal watermarks [each is topped with a crown very similar to a Spanish heraldic crown of higher nobility. There seems to be the use of quartering and a pallet like central division. Pictured within the escutcheon are castles, lions, fleur de lis like symbols, likely eagles, a cross, three horizontal circles, with the use of borders and orles, without the use of… Read More

MOUND CITY MISSOURI. Good. 1890. On offer are two [2] fascinating, massive Knights of Pythias ledgers/journals from 1890s and the early 1900s. The ledgers are full of information and many documents pertaining to the Mound City Lodge of the Knights in Missouri. Interestingly these Knights were prolific writers and note takers with a great deal of anecdotal narrative. The older ledger starts in 1890 and the last entry is 1899. This ledger is filled with entries; every page has notations, meeting notes, description of rites, lists of all the members and their rank in the order. There is also description of their occupations, for example (cigar maker) mercantile store owner etc. The 1900s ledger has about 125 pages of writing and includes many documents. Here is an excerpt: 1898 - "I charge that said James Harvey during the year 1898 on the streets of Mound City was in such a state of intoxicated condition - before the public and members of said lodge as to bring disgrace upon himself… Read More

On offer is a sensational, original 1906 manuscript diary handwritten by a young man named Jasper W. O'Farrell, who we believe was the son or grandson of Jasper O'Farrell a famed early San Francisco resident, surveyor, land holder and Senator. [There are streets in San Francisco named after him and a chain of eateries!] All the more fascinating is the narrative by the young O'Farrell who lived through the notorious earthquake of 1906. Writing in fits and spurts throughout about a third of the book he does a good job detailing the tragedy of the earthquake and the wreckage it caused, even the destruction of his own home. An interesting counterpoint to his entries on the massive earthquake are his writings of trips including going to Yosemite for several days. Here are some snippets: "Today we all went to the Cliff Hose and had refreshments at the M&M Hotel. In the evening we all went to Mrs Moffats and spent the evening…John B and I went across the bay with them. While on the boat the little chicken… Read More

SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA CA. Good. 1906. On offer is a sensational, original 1906 manuscript diary handwritten by a young man named Jasper W. O'Farrell, who we believe was the son or grandson of Jasper O'Farrell a famed early San Francisco resident, surveyor, land holder and Senator. [There are streets in San Francisco named after him and a chain of eateries!] All the more fascinating is the narrative by the young O'Farrell who lived through the notorious earthquake of 1906. Writing in fits and spurts throughout about a third of the book he does a good job detailing the tragedy of the earthquake and the wreckage it caused, even the destruction of his own home. An interesting counterpoint to his entries on the massive earthquake are his writings of trips including going to Yosemite for several days. Here are some snippets: "Today we all went to the Cliff Hose and had refreshments at the M&M Hotel. In the evening we all went to Mrs Moffats and spent the… Read More

WASHINGTON, DC. Very Good. 1936. On offer is the original design study for a major dam project in the United States. The study is comprised of 2 documents. The main document is 10 inches by 8 inches, contains 123 pages and is in excellent condition. The second document is a technical specifications document that contains 37 pages. It too is in excellent condition. The Savage River Reservoir is a 360 acre storage reservoir in northwest Maryland. It was completed in 1952 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which also currently maintains it. The reservoir was formed by the Savage Dam which impounds the Savage River. The reservoir is used for flood control and municipal drinking. The Savage River Dam is a rock-fill, earthen dam, 184 feet high, 1,050 feet long and drains an area of 105 square miles. The dam was modified in 1980 and is owned by the Upper Potomac River Commission. The Savage River is a major wilderness recreation area and the river has been the site of U.S. Olympic trials for… Read More

Midland, Maryland: Improved Order of Red Men Tribe. Fair with no dust jacket. Hardcover. On offer are two historically significant ledger books spanning 10 years, maintained by Chiefs of the Improved Order of Red Men of Tioga Tribe No. 126 in Midland, Maryland. PLEASE REQUEST FULL BIO ON THE RED MEN FROM SELLER (excluded due to word count restrictions). The first ledger spans 1919-1923 and the second covers 1931-1936. Each ledger contains the annual Roll of Chiefs, where attendance is kept for each weekly meeting. This is followed by hundreds of pages of meeting minutes, wherein the intimate detail of the tribe’s attendance, discussions, motions, officer nominations, elections and tribe finances are meticulously recorded. Excerpts follow to give the flavour of the ledgers: “...Moved and Sec. Charles Bevidge be suspended from all rights and privileges of the order carried. Moved and Sec we porospone [sic] class initiation until Dec 30 on account of Indusstrial condition.… Read More

Havana, Cuba: Cuban Slave Trade Contract Havana. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1863. Non-Book. On offer is a remarkable early contract for an emancipated African slave whose contract to work under Los Minas del Cobre of Havana has been renewed for two years. The contract is for Feliciano, who was born in the Congo, Africa. The contract is from the Governor Captain General Superintendent of the Treasury of the Island of Cuba. It states that Feliciano is being “consigned” to del Cobre on a contract renewal. The number of years for which Feliciano is contracted says tres (three) but that number is crossed out, and a note indicating the duration of the contract renewal is handwritten at the bottom of the contract. The contract indicates that Feliciano was slave #164, brought from the Congo to Cuba on the ship Guantanamo (which was later used to transport Chinese coolies from Macau). The contract states that in exchange for Feliciano’s work, he will be paid 5 pesos and 33 ?… Read More

Macao, Macau, China, Havana, Cuba: Chinese Coolie Trade Doctor Contract MacAo Havana. Fair with no dust jacket. 1853. Non-Book. On offer is a rare contract prepared for a Chinese physician who is being contracted to care for Chinese aboard a coolie trade ship who require medical and emotional support. The contract was prepared for a doctor named Quo Soo. It indicates that he will be paid 15 pesos per month for caring for Chinese aboard frigates that bring them from Macau to Havana. The document is handwritten in Spanish and signed in Chinese in Havana on June 15, 1853. This document provides insight into the system that supported the Chinese Coolie Trade and the men themselves. The Chinese coolie trade, a system of indentured labor that targeted young, poor Chinese men, operated from 1847-1874. Throughout this period, African slavery was slowly being abolished around the world. The coolie trade was initiated by Britain and was eventually dominated by both Britain and the United States of… Read More

Havana, Cuba, Macao, China: Chinese Coolie Ship Mutiny MacAo To Havana. Fair with no dust jacket. 1865. Non-Book. On offer is a stunning, shocking and outstanding piece of Chinese and Cuban history, being a remarkably rare Spanish and Chinese manuscript recording the interrogation of passengers aboard the French frigate, Emmanuel, seeking details about the deaths occurring on its voyage from Macau to Havana after a failed mutiny aboard the vessel. The French frigate Emmanuel set sail from Havana on March 4, 1865 with 160 Chinese men on board. It was captained by L. De Condray It landed in Macau on July 12, 1865. Only 144 men survived the journey. This sailing of the Emmanuel was known to have had an attempted mutiny on board, but no details of the mutiny were released publicly (Asome, 2020). This document provides details on the mutiny through the eyes of the Chinese men who survived. The document is formatted as a question asked by Cuban authorities followed by an answer from the Chinese… Read More